(Reuters) - The two-time defending champion Miami Heat will be among five National Basketball Association teams playing preseason games in four countries this October as part of the league's effort to connect with fans globally.

The Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs will play a series of games in five cities in Brazil, China, Germany, and Turkey, the league said in a statement.

Regular-season international games will be announced at a later date, according to the NBA.

Miami and Cleveland will play the NBA's second game in South America when the teams meet on October 11 in Rio de Janeiro.

The series will also include two games in China between the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings on October 12 in Shanghai and on October 15 in Beijing.

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Europe for games against eight-time German champions Alba Berlin on October 8 in Germany before traveling to Istanbul for a meeting with five-time Turkish champions Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul on October 11.